Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-01

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caused Paul to draw upon his person the
full semblance of skeleton, Deaths head
and all, making, when finished, figure
that when in the dark, would be apt shake
the nerves of the brayest and strongest
men.
With nothing but strong bandage
about his waist and hips, in which brace
of revolvers and knife were concealed,
he was nearly ready for the exhibition
which he had planned. The next thing
which he took was several of the strong
lassoes always carried at the saddle bows
of the Rangers. These he knOtted to-
gether in q continuous rope, and then
announced himself ready for his work.
eff it 10 not against your wishes, l
should really like TO know what you IN
tend to do, maior?" asked DeIorme, as
he gazed upon the fearful, scarce human
looking figure before him.
s'I'm going TO scale the mountain By
kind of pass which l remember having
seen when we were here before, or kind
of opening on this side by which can
get to its top and look down into the val
lev where the red devils camp. One Of
our scouts wentup when we had our fight
here, and in that way we found out that
there were but four Indians in the gorge
! then, and we let down men to take them
! in the rear, and in that way tanned 'em
out after they had layed out nearly half Of
our company. After | get to the top I m
going to lower myself away into the
camp, and if they don't run when they
see q fiery skeleton coming gdOwn from
above on 'em they're Drawer than white
men. Ii they run, as I'm almost sure
they will, Tll spirit your Stella out safe
here into your arms, and, my men being
ready with the horses, daylight will find
us long ways from here"
"The plan is excellent, vet full of
danger to yourself. If it miscarries, you
are lost"
"Then revenge me-that is all l ask"
"CannOt go with your" asked Paul.
"No; one devil is enough at time.
Stay here and be ready to run or fight, as
need directs, when the time comes.
Freshen up the phosphOric marks again.
Wet the stuff q little-I must blaze out
all that can"
The Rangers, having been cautioned
and informed of the fearful and perilous
feat which the major was about to under
take, made no remarks when he came out
ready for his work. He looked the fend,
indeed, all over. A mesquite fork, or
branch, had been affixed, like horns, to
his head, and this, too, was rubbed with
phosphorus until it looked like prongs OF
fire.
Shaking both Paul and Delorme by the
hand, and uttering low, but firm, fare
well, the nOble-hearted and daring ranger
commenced the ascent of the almost IN
accessible mountain. Although the place
where he commenced to climb could not
be seen from the mouth of the gorge,
where he had guard stationed, it was
visible to all of his camp. And silently
the men looked upon that skeleton OF
fire, as it appeared slowly scrambling up
among the rocky Cliffs-nOw half bidder
among the scraggy bushes, then coming
cut holder when it stood upon 8 barren
spot.
Slowly, but steadily, on it moved, unit
it seemed to have reached the top, where
it fingered for moment and then disap-
peared
The planter and Paul now had thet
horse, as well IS that of the Major
brought in ready for use, and the Rangers
also prepared to fly or fight, as necessity
r should determine. Thus they waited in {
suspense almost as terrible as the adVen-
ture.
CHAPTER XII.
At the same hour when the Major wa!
preparing for his wild and dangerous ad
venture, Lagona was pacing to and FRI
restlesSv in the front compartment of hii
lodge listening to the Misunderstanding sob!
, of poor Stella, whose anguish only in
Crea sd when she thought how near hel
, fat r and lover were, yet how poWerles!
to T., - her; for she knew what an i'm
meu,4 force the chief had st his COM
, mand, also how impregnable was hi
positi,n. These he had, in his pride O.
! pow, shown to her when he was re
, ceiv-d by his people, and hoped that
seeinL this, she would the more readily
yield to the fate which he really believed
r was her destiny by tie will Of the Grea
Spirit.
The Comanche camp was very still-ht
had so ordered il, and the usual camp
+ fires burned dlmly-but now and Their
the guard fires down The ravine blazed NJ
brightly as the watC lful sentinels threw
on fresh fuel. According to the usua
custom, every warriors horse was pick
eted by his lodge and his weapons were
ready to be seized 81 a moments notice
in case of an alarm il the night. 1t is ar
Indians pride and care never to be
caught mapping on aIY occasion or under
any circumstances.
Ada McAlpin, with a heartlessness
which only hate had frozen into her-to1
naturally she was neither cruel mol
Wlckedly inclined-had cast herself doWr
to rest near the mourning child o.
Delorme, and paid no attention to he1
sorrows.
Lagona felt badly. His heart wa:
heavy. He loved the White Fower toe
J 20 fan c,1E$ o.
he believed he had only Obeyed the will
of the Great Spirit in carrying her Of-he
even regarded the du,y, as he deemed It,
more than his own feelings of love.
''If the White Flower dies, like bird
in its cage, it will be the fault of Lago-
nal" he muttered. "And if he lets her &C
back to her people, then the Great Spirit
will be angry, because the dream Whic
he gave is not fulfilled. The path before
Lagona is dark-he does not know which
way to travel"
The soliloquy of the young chief was
suddenly interrupted by yell so Wild, SO
fearful. so unesrthly, that it did not seem
to have come from mortal lips. Even he,
Indian as he was, started and tremOled.
Again it came, wild and demon-like, upon
the still night air, and cries Of alarm re
sounded through the village.
Lagona sprang to the opening of his
lodge, where his noble white charger
stood, quivering with fear at his picket
near the camp fire. And as he glanced
toward the mountain top in front Of him
he saw sight that was striking terror
into a thousand warrior hearts At the
same instant sight which frole TIE
blood in his own veins, for he had never
seen the like before.
A figure, seemed to be formed Of dire,
was dancing from the crest Of q cliff,
where mad never known Il human foot TO
tread, and uttering yells far more wild